HAMPSHIRE Police in the New Forest have been kept on their toes over the past seven days by a burglary, a machete-wielding man and a fire.

A Ringwood officer explained how police received a report of a man walking around with a machete concealed up his sleeve. 

A squad arrived on the scene, arresting the man, 36, using "ground knowledge" to intercept him.

The next day police were called again, this time to Parsonage Barn Lane, where members of the public had spotted a young man trying to break into cars and even properties.

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Hampshire Police were kept busy this week in the Winchester area (Image: Ringwood Police) Arriving on the scene within minutes, the police arrested the man, 26, after finding stolen property on his person.

A third incident had occurred earlier in the week when an unattended garden fire got out of control, potentially posing a risk to anyone inside the adjoining property.

Police forced entry to the house, but no one was inside. 

A police spokesperson said: "Last week we received a report of a male trying car door handles and even attempting to get into properties. Within minutes of the call, we arrived on scene and located a male on Parsonage Barn Lane who matched the description. The male was searched and suspected stolen property was recovered. A 26-year-old male from Ringwood was arrested for theft from a motor vehicle, attempted burglary and vehicle interference. He remains in custody.

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"The previous day we also received a report of a separate male who had reportedly concealed a weapon up his sleeve, possibly a machete. Your local neighbourhood officers arrived on the scene within a few minutes and using ground knowledge located a suspect and guided armed officers in to intercept him. A 36-year-old male was arrested for breaching his court bail.

"We also attended a house fire earlier in the week, after coming across it on a routine patrol. We had to gain entry into the address by forcing entry to ensure it was empty. It was established that a deliberate waste fire in the garden had been left unattended and gone out of control."